Potential Hepatic Stem/progenitor Cells in Adult Livers

The existence of hepatic stem cells in adult livers was hypothesized about 50 years ago. Studies on hepatic stem/progenitor cells are an important part in stem cell research and bearing significant values in clinical applications. Activated hepatic stem/progenitor cells have been successfully isolated from injured human or rodent livers, and were cultured in established with corresponding culture system. Several cell types with stem-like properties have been identified, and they resided in the different locations in adult livers. The gene expression profiles of these potential hepatic stem/progenitor cells were also being characterized. This review will focus on the origin, potential types and tissue locations of the adult hepatic stem/progenitor cells.